Merit Increases Return To Mgmt & Admin Employees

[mweiss]

I am but one person, but I can tell you that, despite my serious inquiries into working for the airline industry, US is not on my radar scope. I do not wish to relocate, only to be out of work again in six to twelve months.

Maybe that's not being fair. Maybe US will survive a long time. But I am not confident enough to even apply, despite the current economy.

Again, I am but one person. Perhaps I am alone in this opinion.

 

[cavalier]

So Cav, did I pass the test?

Yes, but unfortunately we are in the airline industry and not the fossil fuel industry.

You told that story before about the pots and pans, but trouble is, pots and pans won't scare off Roach, nor should it.

You missed my entire point Bob, completely and totally...I will just let it drop....

 

[PITbull]

Bob,

In the meantime, this is the real fight U employees have to endeavor. We must protect our professions in this industry. If U management and the employees collectively can not find that "balance" than U management will have to make a decision. We as employees financially are circling the drain for many, we can't become impoverished to save an airline or eliminate even more numbers.

Don't think you understand this or want to. But, that is the "dog" in this fight.

 

[delldude]

First of all at this point this is all rumor folks. Instead of taking the bait why cant you wait. With that said if this is true, ( and id like to see the details) this is truly a mistake. Its doesnt look good nor does it breed trust and respect between management and its employees. I ll have to wait to hear Dave address this and foremost if its even true.

funny though...thursday my skin had an inneroffice correspondence that he was reading and turning over everytime someone would come into the office....something was up...wasn't wed or thurs when this popped????

 

[Dilligas]

I am but one person, but I can tell you that, despite my serious inquiries into working for the airline industry, US is not on my radar scope. I do not wish to relocate, only to be out of work again in six to twelve months.

Maybe that's not being fair. Maybe US will survive a long time. But I am not confident enough to even apply, despite the current economy.

Again, I am but one person. Perhaps I am alone in this opinion.

LMAO

Thanks for sharing.

Glad to hear you are only one person...

As far as U goes, I'm sure the good folks at U will continue to muddle through without your expertise. Perhaps now that you have decided not to grace U with your presence, you can stop bashing the good folks that do work there and go wash your nose.

Have a nice day. Good luck in your airline "career". :blink:

 

[mweiss]

Perhaps now that you have decided not to grace U with your presence, you can stop bashing the good folks that do work there

Who, exactly, have I been bashing? Quotes please.

 

[usfliboi]

Bob I think impoverished is a strong word. If some at this airline are imporverished, it cant be blamed sorely on US! Trust me I know som reserves who use to be on food stamps HOWEVER they chose to pass sick etc so their time was really low. I can tell you there are no people at this company impoverished simply because Us pays horribly and other airlines pay well.

 

[Dilligas]

Who, exactly, have I been bashing? Quotes please.

Michael,

Perhaps bashing isn't fair. It's more like a tone of condescension, when you have told people if they don't like it, if they regard management as the enemy, etc, they should leave. I also took offense at some of your remarks regarding employees using their earned sick time and a sarcastic tone you took with a U employee regarding sick leave. Thus, my sarcasm at your announcement.

Then when you make a public proclamation that U is no longer eligible for your services, I find it comical. Perhaps I'm a bit sensitive since another serial poster who didn't get an interview insists on commenting on each and every aspect of a job and a company he only thinks he knows about.

The employees that are left doing the work at U are mostly relatively high time employees with a lot of years invested in careers that they previously enjoyed. For an outsider to suggest they simply walk away is seen as arrogant and insensitive to this poster. The employees have seen management come and go, always richer than when they arrived, without having to perform.

I would only suggest that you have a little respect and appreciation for the folks that do the work each day and night, 24/7/365.

No matter how smart and bright you are, you can still learn.

Regards,

D

 

[PITbull]

Dilligas,

I just would really like to live with you!!!

 

[mweiss]

It's more like a tone of condescension, when you have told people if they don't like it, if they regard management as the enemy, etc, they should leave.

It's unfortunate that emotions carry so poorly through this medium. Condescension was never my intention. My perspective is based on the observation that US Airways doesn't look like it will be able to survive the current CEO. I understand quite well the feeling of personal investment one gains from a long career with a company. It is extraordinarily difficult to come to terms with the very real possibility that the latest crew at the top may finish the company off for good.

Then when you make a public proclamation that U is no longer eligible for your services, I find it comical.

Take it for what it is. No sour grapes here. I'm just suggesting that perhaps there is some merit to the argument that it's hard to find people who are willing to work for the company.

Perhaps I'm a bit sensitive since another serial poster who didn't get an interview insists on commenting on each and every aspect of a job and a company he only thinks he knows about.

Of course. I can see how one might get that impression. And I'll be the first to admit that the airline industry is one of the most complex ever devised. I'm not going to go into much detail here as to where my information comes from, but I have done extensive research into the industry, with many discussions with employees from ramper to executive vice presidents, as well as government officials associated with the industry. It is most certainly not a substitute for working for an airline. On the other hand, it probably has given me some perspectives that one wouldn't see as a tree in the forest.

I also took offense at some of your remarks regarding employees using their earned sick time and a sarcastic tone you took with a U employee regarding sick leave.

Sarcastic? Honestly, sarcasm has not been a tool I have used in discussion in a long time. I suppose one could have heard a sarcastic tone in some of my posts, but I've tried to counter it where I've noticed that it could be perceived in that manner.

Certainly, PITbull and I have had several differences of opinion, and it is clear that we look at labor from a very different perspective. Mostly, I think she views employment at a particular wage as an entitlement, while I do not.

In trying to explain my view, I have used the "logical conclusion" method to illustrate my perspective. Perhaps that came across as sarcasm. If so, I apologize, both to PITbull and to you (as you indicated your offense as well). It was not my intent.

The employees that are left doing the work at U are mostly relatively high time employees with a lot of years invested in careers that they previously enjoyed. For an outsider to suggest they simply walk away is seen as arrogant and insensitive to this poster. The employees have seen management come and go, always richer than when they arrived, without having to perform.

I understand your point. Were it 1999, I wouldn't even consider making such a suggestion. As it is, the very fact that the employees that are left are high time employees with many years invested is what leads me to make the suggestion. The job no longer provides the joy that it once did, which is quite understandable. But the worst of it is this: these people have seen many CEOs come and go, and somehow the company always muddles through. This gives the impression that it can go on forever. Certainly that was the perspective at TWA throughout the 90s. Ultimately, though, the damage was done and there was nothing left.

I certainly don't want to give the impression that I have anything but sympathy for the situation. It's horrible, and for the past decade of opportunity to have been squandered the way it was by three sets of people at the top saddens me greatly. There was so much time that should have been spent restructuring the company to bring costs in line with the future of air travel. Not by cutting wages until every employee is in poverty, but by extracting more productivity from the existing employees. WN has done this for many years, and AS has been working on perfecting the model for full-service airlines.

But I digress.

I would only suggest that you have a little respect and appreciation for the folks that do the work each day and night, 24/7/365.

Again, I think I have given the wrong impression here. I have given nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation to the airline employees I have had the pleasure to associate with. Many know me by name, and we have many pleasant discussions about many things, sometimes even including the airline industry.

Ultimately, all I hope for is that all of the airlines' employees stop the finger-pointing, whether CEO or ramper. There's plenty of time for it later; right now it only prolongs the bleeding.

In closing, I want to apologize to anyone I have offended here. In the future, I will take greater care to avoid the perception of insensitivity on my part.

 

[Dilligas]

Michael,

Wow.

Not often someone replies with such eloquence and detail. In retrospect perhaps I underestimated your appreciation of the situation.

I do appreciate the thoughtfulness you put into your response and the time you took to articulate it so well. You certainly clarified your viewpoint and perspective.

Thank you.

 

[BoeingBoy]

US Airways' leaders in line for raises
Airline union says it's 'absurd'

Tuesday, March 09, 2004
By Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

US Airways Chief Executive Officer David Siegel and all airline managers will become eligible next month for as much as a 4 percent "merit" pay raise, the first such increase since 2001.

Article

Jim

 

[delldude]

SO I GUESS THEY WANT US TO FORGO OUR 2004 RAISES?
PUT ME DOWN FOR A NO

 

[MarkMyWords]

"Fending off pre-emptive criticism, US Airways spokesman David Castelveter pointed out yesterday that many unions also had pay increases scheduled for 2004, and that the unions agreed to this year's management "merit" pay restoration during US Airways' bankruptcy proceedings in 2002."

This little paragraph is what caught my attention. So this should come as no surprise to any of the unions or their members.

 

[BoeingBoy]

MarkMyWords,

I saw that too. The only problem is that while they use that to publicly justify their "merit" raises, they are asking for we ordinary folks for more concessions. Do you think we'll end up making more at the end of the year than we do now, irrespective of whatever pay increases we are "scheduled" for?

By the way, it's 1% for the pilots - I'd love to get 4% instead of a probable pay and benefit cut.

Jim